Apparatus for the removal of alcohol from wine, cider, beer, and other alcoholic products



March 7, 1933. M, COUPEAU ET AL 1,900,694

APPARATUS FOR THE REMOVAL OF ALCOHOL FROM WINE, CIDER, BEER, AND OTHER ALCOHOLIC PRODUCTS Original Filed July 25, 1930 Hmurmv MARC COUPEAU &

MAURICE DELAVILLE Inventors Walla;

Attorneys.

Patented Mar. 7, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT oFi-"lca MARC COUPEAU, OF PARIS, AND MAURICE DELAVILLE, OF ST. MAURICE, FRANCE, ASSIGNORS OF ONE-THIRD TO ANDRE CORNILLAC, OF' PARIS, FRANCE APPARATUS FOR THE REMOVAL OF ALCOHOL FROM WINE, CIDER, BEER, AND OTHER ALCOHOLIC rnonuc'rs Original application filed J'uly 23, 1930, Serial No. 469,982, and in France June 25, 1930. Divided and this application filed August 7, 1981. Serial No. 555,666.

The present invention relates to an installation for the removal of alcohol from wines or other alcoholic liquids, without raising any portion of the liquid under treatment to a temperature near its boiling point under the degree of vacuum at which the treatment is effected.

This application is. also in the nature of adivision of our copendingapplication filed July 23, 1930, bearing Serial No. 469,982.

The accompanying diagrammatic drawing shows by way of example an installation according to the invention, and herein the several apparatus of the installation are shown 1 diagrammatically as laboratory apparatus, but they may be of any construction adapted for industrial manufacture.

The installation essentially comprises a chamber A, with a vacuum pump P communicating with said chamber for producing a vacuum therein; atthe upper part of said chamber is mounted a sprayer A by which the liquid to be freed from alcohol is brought from its tank V into the chamber A in the form of fine spray due to the suction of the vacuum; at the lower part of the chamber is mounted an injector C for a supply of steam which is produced at low temperature in the boiler B or the like; at the top of said chamber is positioned a conduit D for circulating, out of the chamber and to the said vacuum pump, the vapor of water, alcohol and other substances withdrawn by the pump. One or more vessels JJ are mounted at the lower part of the chamber in order to receive the liquid which has been freed from alcohol. A drying device B can be positioned between the boiler B and the injector G in order to dry the steam, and the condensed water descends into a vessel L.

The liquid to be freed from alcohol is preferably heated, before reaching the sprayer A, to a temperature practically equal to that of the steam injected at C and circulating 5 upwardly in the chamber A, and this can be i effected by means of a heating worm T whose temperature may be regulated by any suitable means, and preferably by a thermostat; in this case, a cooling device C may be mounted between the chamber G and the vessels J-J for coolin the liquid which has been freed from alco o1.

The steam and alcohol, and any other bodies accompanying them, are condensed between the outlet of the chamber A and the vacuum pump P, and preferably by the fractional method, by the use of coolers DE-F and of vessels GHI-O.

If wine is to be treated for removing the alcohol, the operation is preferably as follows. The vessel V is filled, not with the original wine, but with wine from which its aromatic constituents have been preliminarily removed in the cold state, and the said constituents will phen be added to the wine, freed from" its alcohol, which collects in the vessels J-J', in conformity to the process disclosed in patent application Serial Number 469,982.

Obviously, the arrangement and the construction of the various apparatus com rised in the installation are susceptible of al suitable modifications without departing from the spirit of the invention.

We claim An apparatus for the treatment of wines or other alcoholic liquids for the removal of alcohol therefrom, comprising a still rovided with a chamber having a distil ing space which is substantially clear and unobstructed throughout the total height of said chamber, a vacuum pump communicating therewith, a sprayer mounted at the upper part of said chamber together with means for supplying the same with the liquid to be treated, an injector mounted at the lower part of said chamber and means for supplyin steam to the same, a conduit at the top of sai chamber for the exit of the said steam charged with alcohol vapors, the lower part of the chamber being'connected with a vessel adapted to collect the liquid which has been freed from alcohol.

In testimony whereof we have signed this specification.

MARC COUPEAU. MAURICE DELAVILLE. 

